The leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations called once again for Jonathan Pollard’s release from incarceration after visiting him in the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina.
Pollard received a life sentence in 1987 for passing classified information to Israel while he was working as a civilian intelligence analyst.
"We returned with a renewed commitment to work for Mr. Pollard’s release from incarceration in accordance with long-standing Conference policy. We see this as a serious humanitarian issue as well as a legal matter. He has served 27 years, seven of them in solitary confinement. Mr. Pollard has expressed remorse, which he persuasively reiterated in our two-hour discussion. He suffers from multiple serious medical challenges, which we believe add urgency to the timeliness of his release," said Richard Stone and Malcolm Hoenlein, respectively Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Conference, the central coordinating body representing 51 national Jewish organizations.
Stone and Hoenlein noted the many outstanding American leaders who have publicly called for Mr. Pollard’s release.
The Conference leaders added, "While we have written to the President and his predecessors, had meetings with them and other administration officials, including most recently Vice President Biden, and we have spoken out on Mr. Pollard’s behalf continuously, seeing him in person and dialoguing with him added significantly to our conviction that his sentence should be quickly commuted. Mr. Pollard made clear that he does not seek a pardon, recognizing that he committed a crime, but seeks a commutation of his sentence."
"Mr. Pollard wants only to be able to build a family and to be a contributing citizen. He has said repeatedly and convincingly that he will not engage in political activity. We believe it is overdue that he be allowed to join his wife, who was present at our visit, so that they can live out their lives together. We once again call on the Conference’s member organizations, religious leaders and individuals as well as all concerned people to work to secure his release," said Stone and Hoenlein.